Ogden, Utah – The University of North Dakota softball team won its first Big Sky Conference game of the season on Saturday when it defeated Weber State by a score of 11-4 at the Wildcat Softball Field.

“The team responded well to the tough day yesterday with a crucial win today,” Head Coach Eric Oakley said. “We took an early lead and then answered any time they got close. It was a great team effort. Nice to get the first Big Sky win in program history.”

North Dakota scored its first two runs of the game in the first inning. Junior D Jantzer (Grants Pass, Ore.) hit a homerun for the first run of the game.

UND added on two runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

A big fifth inning gave UND a 9-3 lead. North Dakota took advantage of several Weber State errors to add to its lead.

Senior Cami Bennett (Grants Pass, Ore.) scored the first run of the inning off a fielding error. A sequence of singles led to runs scored by sophomore Taylor Donnelly (Lakeville, Minn.), Jantzer, junior Elizabeth Cudney (Montague, Mich.), and senior Kenna Olsen (Issaquah, Wash.).

Starting pitcher Caralyn Chewning (Willamina, Ore.) received the win, pitching 3.2 innings. She was relieved by Emma Gronseth (Forest Grove, Ore.) who gave up three hits in 3.1 innings of work.

Jantzer went 3-for-4 on the day and Chewning went 2-for-2 at the plate.

UND now has a record of 8-19 on the season and 1-2 in conference play.

North Dakota will travel to Greeley, Colo. to face Northern Colorado for a three game series March 29-30.